Introduction to Colston Loveland

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WGN) — It may not have been the pick many were expecting at No. 10, but there were signs Colston Loveland was going to be a Chicago Bear both before the draft, and as the first round unfolded Thursday night.

The Bears zeroed in on him after his pro day at Michigan and head coach Ben Johnson said Colston Loveland reminded him of his former top tight end in Detroit—Sam LaPorta.

Who is Colston Loveland?

Loveland is a college national champion football player who spent three years at the University of Michigan after being raised in Gooding, Idaho—a town with a population of 3,716, according to the 2020 US Census.
"Coming from a place like this, very small town, very blue collar, great community, great family, I was blessed," Loveland said. "My family made many sacrifices. They’ve sacrificed a lot for me to be here so, I know that and I appreciate that, and I want to give it all back to them eventually."

Scouting Report

Bears’ Co-Director of Player Personnel Jeff King sees Loveland as a guy that’s a capable separator and likened him to a former teammate of his, Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap.
"He has really good feel, like he’s got really good snap out of the top [of his routes]," King said. "He gets negative on cuts probably as well as any guy that I’ve been around. The guy that reminded me a little bit of him is Todd Heap, who I played with in Arizona. He was able to get negative on cuts and separate at the top.
"Not putting him in the Hall of Fame yet, or [making him] a ring of honor type player, but I think those types of skillsets as a separator is what stands out."
Heap was a two-time Pro Bowler in the early 2000s for the Baltimore Ravens. At his peak, Heap was reeling in 60-75 catches for 800-plus receiving yards a year for a Ravens squad that was run-first with a litany of Hall of Fame talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Draft Night

As the first nine picks were phoned in on draft night, other players on Chicago’s big board began to go elsewhere, one by one: Will Campbell at No. 4, Mason Graham at No. 5, Ashton Jeanty at No. 6, Armand Membou at No. 7 and Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9.
With Jeanty, Graham and the draft’s top three offensive tackles off the board, the Bears were in prime position to take a tight end at No. 10 with both Loveland and Penn State’s Tyler Warren still on the board.
According to King, the choice boiled down to fit within Johnson’s offense, and Loveland checked more boxes than Warren.
"Tyler is going to be a great player, right? but for us, we just felt that the alignment from coaching, scouting, everybody that touched both players, that [Loveland] was the best fit for us," King said. "We’re not comparing players. Both those guys are going to have really good careers, but Colston was the best fit for us."

Playing Style

Loveland caught 45 passes for 649 yards and four touchdowns during Michigan’s 15-0 national championship season in 2023. His 2024 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury, but even with that and a drop in quarterback play after J.J. McCarthy’s departure in last year’s draft, he still managed to reel in 56 catches for 582 yards (58.2 YPG) and five touchdowns.
He’ll likely be the No. 2 tight end behind Cole Kmet heading into his rookie year in Chicago, but Loveland said he sees how he and Kmet can make an impact together on the football field.
"Nowadays, you see a lot of teams looking to get two well-rounded tight ends that can do a lot, put defenses in a bind," Loveland said. "I’m super stoked to get in there and work with him. He’s been doing it for a while [and he’s] really good at it … 12-personnel, two tight ends, I can do everything and do a lot of things that mess with the defense."
And in case Bears fans were wondering, quarterback Caleb Williams has already reached out, and predictably so, Loveland is fired up to get to work with his new QB.
"I love his game. Just watching him throughout college, he’s that man. I’m super excited," Loveland said. "The arm talent on him. [He’s] super smart, does everything the right way … He gave me a call a little bit ago so, we’re looking to build that bond and just get with him and help the Bears win."

Conclusion

Colston Loveland is a talented tight end who is expected to make a significant impact on the Chicago Bears. With his ability to separate and make plays, he is a great fit for the team’s offense. Loveland is excited to work with quarterback Caleb Williams and tight end Cole Kmet, and is looking forward to helping the Bears win.

FAQs

• Who is Colston Loveland?
  Colston Loveland is a college national champion football player who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
• Where did Loveland play college football?
  Loveland played college football at the University of Michigan.
• What are Loveland’s strengths as a player?
  Loveland is a capable separator who can make plays and is a good fit for the Bears’ offense.
• Who does Loveland compare to?
  Loveland has been compared to former NFL tight end Todd Heap and current NFL tight end Sam LaPorta.
• What are Loveland’s expectations for his rookie season?
  Loveland is expected to be the No. 2 tight end behind Cole Kmet and is looking forward to working with quarterback Caleb Williams and helping the Bears win.